"If nature has destined us to be healthy, I almost dare to affirm that the state of reflection is a state contrary to nature and the man who meditates is a depraved animal" (Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, p. 42).
Contemporary Civilization
Introduction to Contemporary Civilization in the West
Founded in 1919 as a course on War and Peace Issues, the central purpose of Contemporary Civilization is to introduce students to a range of issues concerning the kinds of communities – political, social, moral, and religious – that human beings construct for themselves and the values that inform and define such communities; the course is intended to prepare students to become active and informed citizens. While readings in this one-year course change from time to time, the factors that lead to adoption of a text always include historical influence, the presentation of ideas of enduring importance, and the demonstrated ability of a text to provoke productive discussion.
Contemporary Civilization Reading List for 2023-2024 (412.62 KB)